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<strong>Don</strong> <strong>Dravland</strong>, <strong>PGA</strong><br />
Name <strong>Don</strong> <strong>Dravland</strong><br />
College/University University of South Dakota<br />
Year turned Professional 1980<br />
Facility and Job Title The Pines Country Club <strong>PGA</strong> Head Professional<br />
Please give a summary of your<br />
Background and credentials.<br />
What was your motivation to<br />
become a <strong>PGA</strong> Professional?<br />
What is your specialty in the<br />
golf business?<br />
Please list any<br />
accomplishments (Awards,<br />
Certifications, and<br />
Tournaments.)<br />
I grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota and played high<br />
school golf for three years, lettering all three. I then<br />
played for USD for two years lettering my sophomore<br />
year. I turned pro in 1980 by accepting an Assistant<br />
Professional position at Norfolk Country Club in Norfolk,<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>. I moved to Lincoln, <strong>Nebraska</strong> in the winter of<br />
1982 accepting an Assistant Professional position at<br />
Hillcrest Country Club. I achieved my <strong>PGA</strong> membership<br />
in 1985. I accepted the Head Professional position at<br />
The Pines Country Club in Valley, <strong>Nebraska</strong> in the spring<br />
of 1987 and have been here ever since.<br />
My family background surrounded golf all the way from<br />
my grandfather, grandmother, father (who won four<br />
State Championships in South Dakota) and brother who<br />
shares our course record here at The Pines with 67 from<br />
the tips.<br />
I enjoy working with people and giving lessons the<br />
most.<br />
Before rhuematoid arthritis settled in beginning in 1987<br />
I won various tournaments as an amateur in South<br />
Dakota and I won two invitationals as a college golfer at<br />
USD. I tied for low gross in two pro-ams and won low<br />
net in two also. Along with Brian Kuta I was cochairman<br />
of the Junior Golf Committee for the <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
<strong>PGA</strong>. In addition I have been National Golf Day<br />
chairman and I was publicity chairman for our <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
Section as well.
What was your greatest<br />
moment in golf?<br />
What or who has had the<br />
greatest impact on your<br />
career?<br />
Besides golf, what else do you<br />
enjoy?<br />
If you could play any golf<br />
course in the world, which one<br />
would it be and who would<br />
complete your foursome?<br />
If you could give lessons to<br />
anyone in the world who would<br />
it be and what advice would<br />
you give?<br />
What is your favorite golf<br />
instruction tip?<br />
I've got two: winning the South Dakota State Jaycee<br />
Junior Championship at age 16 at Elmwood Golf Course<br />
in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and shooting 64 (par is 70)<br />
at the Pro-Senior event at Mahoney Golf Course in<br />
Lincoln, <strong>Nebraska</strong> where I tied for first place in the<br />
gross division.<br />
My father <strong>Don</strong>, brother Dave and a good friend by the<br />
name of Steve Mentele.<br />
Hunting, fishing, playing card, playing pool, Husker<br />
football and my spending time with my wife Lori and our<br />
children Courtney (and her husband Tanner Petersen),<br />
and sons Dylan and Drew and my mother-in-law Phyllis<br />
Lantefield.<br />
Augusta National with my brother Dave, son Dylan, son<br />
Drew and if my father <strong>Don</strong> was alive I'd ask if we could<br />
play a fivesome.<br />
I gave Kris Kristofferson two lessons when I was at<br />
Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln. I would like to see if<br />
he has evolved more into a swing the golf club motion<br />
instead of a hit the golf ball motion.<br />
For slicers of the golf ball I love the forearm rotation<br />
drill created by swinging the golf club in a very similar<br />
motion to swinging a baseball bat.
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